AO Smith ProMax Review
Gas powered direct vent,
high efficiency and high recovery ProMax models
Explore the popular models from AO Smith Promax series; direct
vent, power vent, high efficiency and high recovery gas-powered water
heaters and its advanced features.
Advanced features
FVIR protection system
FVIR
or Flammable Vapor Ignition Resistance technology is used to keep
the flammable vapors safely inside the gas combustion chamber,
where specially designed flame arrestor prevents the flame or sparks
leaving the unit.
DynaClean self-cleaning system
DynaClean
system is a system that is very benefitial for the water
heater, as it reduces the lime and sediment
build up; and
therefore, allowing the system to keep its efficiency and maximize
hot
water output.
PermaGlass and CoreGard anti-rust system
PermaGlass
and CoreGard
are two mechanisms that are designed for durability of water heater
tanks
and to keep the rust away from the tank. The manufacturer uses the
special glass
coating on
the inner tank surface and the exclusive aluminum
anode rod with
a
stainless steel core.
Eco-friendly gas burner
Green Choice gas burner is the
eco-friendly
burner as it produces less NOx gases when burning the gas (33% lower
emission) than standard type burners.
AO Smith Promax Models
ProMax line of AO Smith water heaters
is the biggest and most diverse group from this manufacturer:
ProMax
Ultra Low NOx
AO Smith ProMax Ultra
Low NOx series of gas water heaters is equipped
with the improved gas
burner, which allow
these
units to meet strict standards for low NOx emission. As the burner
is made of the stainless steel for a longer life and safety, it
utilizes
a combination of radiant heat and excess air to meet high standards.
There are five ProMax models that are
"green" and environment friendly. Natural gas models have the capacity
range from 30 to 50 gallons, energy
efficiency from 0.58 to 0.62, and gas input 30,000 and 40,000
BTU.
ProMax
Plus High Recovery
AO Smith ProMax Plus
is
the group
of water heaters with the highest recovery and the first hour ratings.
The tank
capacity is in a range from 38 to 98 gallons, energy factor
from 0.57 to 0.60 and BTU gas input from 50,000 to 75,100. They are the
right solution for large families and homes with the high hot water
demand.
Comparison: ProMax
model
FCG-100 has a capacity of 98 gallons and gas input of
75,100
BTU and is able to get recovery rate up to 81 gallons per
hour and deliver up to 150 gallons of hot water in the first hour.
Rheem,
Fury Heavy Duty, 42V100F model, has
a capacity of 98 gallons and gas input of 75,000 BTU, can get recovery
up to 75.8 gallons per hour and deliver max. 135
gallons of hot water in the first hour.
All AO Smith ProMax models are designed with
Flammable
Vapor Ignition Resistant
C3
technology
except tanks with 74 and 98 gallons capacity. Discover the benefits of
C3 Technology, "Eco-friendly" burner and Dynaclean
dip tube on 50-gallon high recovery A.O. Smith GCVX-50. Models such as
the Promax
SL are
designed for heating not only a potable water buy space heating as
well.
ProMax
Plus High Efficiency
All AO Smith ProMax
Plus High
Efficiency models,
with
capacities 30, 40 and 50
gallons, were Energy Star qualified, with the energy factors 0.62 and
0.63
and gas input 35,500 and 40,000 BTU. Since the requirements for the
Energy Star approval are changed (EF should be at least 0.67) the above
units are not qualified anymore). But they are still high efficient,
save on energy and eligible for some rebates.
50-gallon, A.O. Smith GPVH-50,
is the pefect example; it is designed with all the powerfull features
AO
Smith offers; C3 technology, FVIR, Dynaclean
diffuser dip
tube,
Green Choice gas burner, hot
surface ignition and has a good 0.65 energy
factor.
Specially design heat traps and 2 inch thick foam insulation
are making
these ProMax Plus units energy efficient, plus
reducing NOx emission by
33% due to eco-friendly Green
Choice gas burner (compared to the standard
burners).
Example:
40 gallons high
efficiency water heater has the first-hour rating 71
gallons
and 41 recovery rate, while high recovery ProMax
models, the same size
water heater, has 88 gallons first-hour rating and 48 recovery rate.
ProMax
Closed Combustion
Power Direct Vent
For closed combustion water heater operation the outside air has
to be delivered in sufficient volume as the indoor air is not enough
for proper combustion. This is why these gas models have two-pipe
system,
one to direct flue gases out and the other to draw the air inside the
water heater.
AO Smith ProMax models with the closed combustion
and power direct vent
are flexible
in venting installation; permitting combined horizontal and vertical
venting and air intake up to 45 ft or 15 m, using PVC, ABS and CPVC
inexpensive pipes.
Since these ProMax units are power direct-vent,
they are using a quiet
modular blower for this venting operation.
Another great feature is Intelli-Vent
gas control with a very hard to break hot surface igniter, advanced
electronics for precise water temperature control and simplified
diagnostics' system.
Available models are with a capacity of 40, 50 and 75 gallon
tanks,
40,000 to 70,000 BTU input per hour and EF from 0.58 to 0.60.
Other models
If among described AO Smith water heaters, you didn't find
what are you looking for, look at the ProMax
models below for
more
options:
- ProMax Power Vent - electrical power
needed for
flexible venting system.
- ProMax Direct Vent - one pipe for
venting and air
intake, no electrical power needed. A.O. Smith
GDV-50 is one of the direct vent models that are using
one pipe, dual channel
closed system. This is a 50-gallon water heater that can vent up to 40
feet that takes the outside air for combustion so no worries about
insufficient indoor ventilation.
- ProMax SL - for recirculating hot
water loop systems.
- ProMax SL Direct Vent - closed
combustion two-pipe
vent system, no electrical power required.
- ProMax SL Power Direct Vent - closed
combustion two
pipe system to draw the air in and vents outside your home.
- AO Smith ProMax SL Standard Vent.
(Pictures are courtesy of AO Smith)
